BTS’s Jungkook tells Stephen Colbert on The Late Show that he invented Star Trek’s Vulcan salute

Jungkook from BTS demonstrates the Vulcan salute

MAY 27, 2021 - For years the Vulcan hand salute has been part of the DNA of the Star Trek universe, and now, thanks to K-Pop phenomenon BTS and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, one of the most beautiful moments in the life of our beloved franchise may have a new origin story.

In a clip posted to Colbert’s YouTube page just one day after their much-hyped appearance on the show, members of the South Korean boy band shared some new hand gestures to add to their now-iconic finger heart, and it turns out one of those gestures is very familiar to fans of Star Trek.

Making the familiar Vulcan salute, the youngest BTS idol Jungkook said, “This one means ‘live long and prosper.’ I invented it and Star Trek learned it from me.” He then explained, “How is that possible? Because Star Trek takes place in the future.” Thankfully it was all in good fun, so there’s no real danger to franchise canon. Not today.

The Vulcan salute first appeared in The Original Series episode, “Amok Time” as an improvised physical greeting by actor Leonard Nimoy, who as a child had seen the gesture made by Jewish rabbis as they invoked a blessing. Since that first appearance it has become part of the heartbeat of Trek fan culture. It’s made appearances from the International Space Station and the Oval Office, and last year former Presidential candidate Andrew Yang suggested it could replace the handshake in a post-COVID world.

Now if you’re not a huge fan of BTS and don’t appreciate all the dynamite song references in this story, that’s okay. Life goes on. 

Live Long and Prosper, whichever fan army you claim as your own.

You can watch the entire BTS visit with Stephen Colbert by checking out The Late Show, now streaming on Paramount+.